Wellhead lubricator and method

ABSTRACT

An improved wellhead lubricator having a housing arranged for vertically extending attachment to a wellhead assembly and having a wireline for supporting a wireline tool therein and passing the wireline tool in and out of the well through the point of attachment to the wellhead. The improvement in this wellhead lubricator relates to the housing having a portion extending laterally from the vertically extending portion of the housing and which portion forms a part of the pressurized chamber of the housing. This laterally extending portion has another tool opening for passage of a wireline tool therethrough while the housing remains attached to the wellhead. A plug is adapted for closing this other tool opening after passage of the wireline tool therethrough. A guide bar is supported in the housing for guiding a wireline tool to the other opening when the tool is to be removed from the housing. Preferably, the other opening is located near the bottom of the laterally extending portion of the housing, whereby wireline tools may be raised and lowered into and out of the lubricator through the other opening by use of the conventional wireline operating through the lubricator.

United States Patent [191 Arnold Dec. 9, 1975 1 WELLHEAD LUBRICATOR AND METHOD [75] Inventor: James F. Arnold, Houston, Tex' [73] Assignee: HydroTech International, Inc.,

Houston, Tex.

22 Filed: Mar. 14, 1975 21 Appl. No.: 558,429

[52] US. Cl. 166/315; 166/70; 166/75;

166/85 [51] Int. Cl. E21B 23/00 [58] Field of Search 15/104.06 A, 104.16;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,710,064 6/1955 Osmun 166/70 2,755,863 7/1956 Stansbury et al. 166/94 3,071,190 l/l963 Emlert 166/75 3,216,500 11/1965 Diehl 166/70 3,435,895 l/l969 Lee 166/70 3,504,742 4/1970 Crawford 166/75 3,568,767 3/1971 Weiss 166/85 3,732,928 5/1973 Sizer 166/315 [57] ABSTRACT An improved wellhead lubricator having a housing arranged for vertically extending attachment to a wellhead assembly and having a wireline for supporting a wireline tool therein and passing the wireline tool in and out of the well through the point of attachment to the wellhead. The improvement in this wellhead lubricator relates to the housing having a portion extending laterally from the vertically extending portion of the housing and which portion forms a part of the pressurized chamber of the housing' This laterally extending portion has another tool opening for passage of a wireline tool therethrough while the housing remains attached to the wellhead. A plug is adapted for closing this other tool opening after passage of the wireline tool therethrough. A guide bar is supported in the housing for guiding a wireline tool to the other opening when the tool is to be removed from the housing. Preferably, the other opening is located near the bottom of the laterally extending portion of the housing, whereby wireline tools may be raised and lowered into and out of the lubricator through the other opening by use of the conventional wireline operating through the lubricator.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 FIG! WELLHEAD LUBRICATOR AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION is a tool that is normally installed on top of a wellhead or the conventional Christmas Tree in order to house a wireline toolwhile the shutoff valve and/or master valve of the wellhead assembly are either opened or closed. The lubricator acts as a pressure housing to allow a straight opening to the down-hole tubing or to house a wireline tool so that the well may be shut in.

b. Description of the Prior Art Prior standard lubricators are generally of a straight tube configuration and must ordinarily be disconnected from the wellhead in order to extract the wireline tool therefrom or to insert a different wireline tool thereinto prior to passage downwardly through the well. In the past, the use of a wirelinetool of conventional design required two or three operators inasmuch as the entire wireline lubricator had to be removed from the top of the wellhead when running a single wireline tool or for subsequently running different or additional wireline tools. The result was that a flange on the lubricator had to be connected and disconnected to one on the wellhead for the changeout or addition of each particular wireline tool. In those instances where additional tools were to be used in the well, this required a succession of makeup and breakdown steps, putting on and taking off the lubricator from the top of the wellhead. This is not only a time consuming but expensive operation when more than one wireline tool is to be used during sequential runs. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved wellhead lubricator and method which is particularly useful when running different wireline tools in sequential runs and which requires a minimum of crew effort as compared with prior art lubricators.

Briefly stated, the apparatus of this invention is for a wellhead lubricator having a housing arranged for vertically extending attachment to a wellhead assembly and having a wireline for supporting a wireline tool therein and passing the wireline tool in and out of the well through the point of attachment to the wellhead. The improvement of this invention comprises said housing having a portion normally forming a part of the pressurized chamber in the housing. This portion has another tool opening for passage of a wireline tool therethrough while the housing remains attached to the wellhead. Means are also provided in the form of a plug or the like for closing the other tool closing after passage of the tool therethrough. The housing also has supported therein guide means for guiding a wireline tool to the other opening when the tool is to be removed from the housing.

Preferably the other opening in the housing is located near the bottom of a laterally extending portion of the housing, whereby the wireline tool may be raised-and lowered into and out of the lubricator through the other opening by use of the conventional wireline operating through the lubricator. In the morepreferred embodiment, this laterally extending portion extends laterally a greater distance near the bottom than the top,

The guide means preferably includes a movable member mounted in the housing and adapted for urging the tool laterally into the lateral extending portion upon operation thereof. This movable member is operably connected to means extending outside of the housing for operating the movable member from a point exterior of the housing. This operating means may conveniently take the form of a manipulating handle or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1' is a side elevation view, partly in central vertical section, showing the wireline tool of this invention mounted on the top of a conventional wellhead and having a wireline tool supported therein.

FIG. 2 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 but in smaller scale and showing the wireline tool being removed from the lubricator;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the wellhead lubricator of this invention is generally designated by the numeral 11. Lubricator 11 includes a lubricator housing 12 which is shown extending vertically upward from and attached to a conventional wellhead designated by the numeral 14 by means of a conventional adapter 15.

Wellhead 14 is of conventional design and may sometimes be referred to as a Christmas Tree as that term is used in the art. Among other things, it includes a master valve 17 for shutting off flow through the wellhead and a wing valve 18 for controlling flow of fluids from the wellhead.

Housing 12 is adaptedto receive thereinto, in conventional fashion, a wireline 20, which is shown passing vertically through housing 12, through conventional wireline packing 21, over sheave 22, downwardly along the exterior of housing 12 to another sheave 23 supportedon wellhead l4 and thence to a conventional powered drum for takeup and payout, as required.

Wireline 20 has supported thereon a conventional wireline tool 25 which, of course, can take many different forms and the one illustrated is merely illustrative of many which may be used for various purposes. In any event, wireline tool 25 is arranged for raising and lowering in the well through wellhead 14, i.e. through the point of attachment of housing 12 to wellhead 14 by means of wireline 20.

Housing 12 has a laterally extending portion designated by the numeral 30. It will be observed that portion 30 extends laterally a greater distance near the bottom than nearthe top, and the lower end thereof is closed by a threaded plug 31 having an internal conduit therethrough connected to a bleed valve 32. Plug 31 is of sufficient diameter to admit passage of wireline tool 25 through the opening provided in the housing 12 when" plug 31 is removed. Referring now to FIG. 2, when plug 31 is removed as aforesaid, wireline tool 25 maybe raised and lowered through the opening in housing 12 created by the removal of plug 31 by operation of wireline 20 by either taking up or letting out the same.

' In addition, the apparatus of this invention includes guide means supported in housing 12 for guiding a wireline tool to the opening created by the removal of plug 31, when th tool is to be, removed from housing 12, as is shown in FIG. 2, for example. These guide means conveniently take the form of a pivoted kickover arm 35 which is shown mounted on crank .pin 36 which is rotationally and sealingly extended through a recessed portion 37 formed in housing 12. Arm 35 is attached to pin 36 for rotation therewith and is dimensioned for contacting wireline tool 25 when-the same is supported in housing 12 by wireline and arranged for thrusting wireline tool 20 laterally into the lateral portion 30 of housing 12, as shown in FIG. 2. Arm 35 is arranged for remote operation from a point exterior of the housing and this conveniently takes the form of an operating handle 39 attached for rotation with pin 36, as shown in FIG. 3.

In operation and when it became desirable to run one or more wireline tools into the well on which wellhead 14 is mounted, lubricator housing 12 is mounted in the manner shown in FIG. 1 with the housing extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom. Master valve 17 and wing valve 18 would normally be closed with the well shut in, thereby containing the pressure present in such well. With plug 31 removed, the attaching end of wireline 20 is lowered through the opening formed by the removal of plug 31 and is attached to a wireline tool such as wireline tool 25. Thereafter, by taking in on wireline 20, wireline tool is drawn upwardly into lubricator housing 12 through the opening created by the removal of plug 31. With the wireline tool 25 completely enclosed within housing 12, plug 31 is reinserted in the manner shown in FIG. 1 with bleed valve 32 closed. Thereafter, master valve 17 of the wellhead 14 is opened and wireline tool 25 is lowered into the well in conventional fashion by lowering on wireline 20.

When the operation of the wireline tool in the well is to be terminated, wireline tool 25 is raised to the raised position in housing l2-and master valve 17 thereafter closed. Pressure inside housing 12 is then bled off through bleed valve 32 and when that operation is complete, then threaded plug 31 is removed. By manipulation of operating handle 39, kick-over arm 35 is extended, as shown in FIG. 2, and wireline tool 25 is removed from housing 12 by lowering on wireline 20, such that wireline tool 25 is caused to pass outwardly through the opening created by the removal of plug 31, as shown in FIG. 2.

At this point, another or different wireline tool may be attached to wireline 20 and the operational sequence repeated. It will be observed that this tool permits the use of several wireline tools or the repeated use of one wireline tool without the necessity for removing housing 12 from the wellhead 14 as is required with conventional lubricators. As a result, this invention provides a tool which can be operated with a minimum of crew requirements and a minimum of time to run in succession a plurality of wireline tools without the necessity for removing and reinstalling the lubricator housing with each tool.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the apparatus and method of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrange ment of parts. For example, equivalent elements or materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this de scription of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wellhead lubricator having a housing arranged for vertically extending attachment to a wellhead assembly and having a wireline for supporting a wireline tool therein and passing said wireline tool in and out of said well through the point of attachment to said wellhead, the improvement comprising:

said housing having a portion extending laterally therefrom and normally forming a part of the pressurized chamber in said housing;

said laterally extending portion having another tool opening for passage of a wireline tool therethrough while said housing remains attached to said wellhead;

means for closing said other tool opening after passage of said tool therethrough;

and guide means supported in said housing for guiding a wireline tool to said other opening when said tool is to be removed from said housing.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said other opening is located near the bottom of said laterally extending portion, whereby a wireline tool may be raised and lowered into and out of said lubricator through said other opening by use of said wireline.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said laterally extending portion extends laterally a greater distance near the bottom than the top, whereby wireline tools may be inserted and removed through said other opening at an angle relative to the vertical.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said guide means includes a movable member mounted in said housing and adapted for urging said tool laterally into said laterally extending portion upon operation thereof;

and means connected to said movable member for operating said member from a point exterior of said housing.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said operating means includes a handle operably connected to said movable member for manipulating said tool to said laterally extending portion for removal through said other opening.

6. A wellhead lubricator vertically mountable on a wellhead assembly for running a wireline tool into and out of the well, comprising:

an elongated housing for said wireline tool;

an aperture at one end of said housing for passage of the wireline thereinto;

a first opening at the other end of said housing for providing communication with said wellhead assembly when said housing is mounted thereon;

a second opening in said housing for selectively removing said wireline tool therefrom;

means for releasably closing said second opening,

and

means for, guiding said wireline tool towards said second opening when said wireline tool is to be removed from said housing as aforesaid.

7. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said housing includes a laterally extending portion with said second opening being disposed thereon. 8. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said second opening is laterally spaced from said first opening near said other housing end whereby said wireline tool may be passed through said second opening at an angle relative to the vertical. 9. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said guide means includes a movable member mounted in said housing for urging said wireline tool towards said second opening as aforesaid, and means connected to said movable member for operating said member exteriorly of said housing. 10. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 6 and further including:

a valve for selectively bleeding pressure from said housing. 11. A method of running wireline tools in and out of a well, the combination of steps comprising:

attaching a generally vertically extending elongated housing to the wellhead of said well in fluid tight relationship therewith;

supporting a wireline tool in said housing while maintaining said housing in a closed fluid tight condition, to thereby contain any pressure that may be present in said well;

lowering said wireline tool into said well and withdrawing said wireline tool from said well while maintaining said housing in said fluid tight condition;

shutting in said well at a point below said housing after said wireline tool is withdrawn from said well;

opening said housing and removing said wireline tool therefrom while said housing remains attached to said wellhead and while said well is shut in;

inserting another wireline tool into said housing while said housing remains attached to said wellhead;

closing said housing to form a fluid tight chamber therein;

and lowering said other wireline tool into said well and withdrawing said other wireline tool from said well while maintaining said housing in said fluid tight condition.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said housing is relieved of any well pressure therein after said well is shut in and before said first wire line tool is removed from said housing. 

1. A WELLHEAD LUBRICATOR HAVING A HOUSING ARRANGED FOR VERTICALLY EXTENDING ATTACHMENT TO A WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY AND HAVING A WIRELINE FOR SUPPORTING A WIRELINE TOOL THEREIN AND PASSING SAID WIRELINE TOOL IN AND OUT OF SAID WELL THROUGH THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT TO SAID WELLHEAD, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID HOUSING HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM AND NORMALLY FORMING A PART OF THE PRESSURIZED CHAMBER ING SAID HOUSING; SAID LATERALLY EXTENDING PORTION HAVING ANOTHER TOOL OPENING FOR PASSAGE OF A WIRELINE TOOL THERETHROUGH WHILE SAID HOUSING REMAINS ATTACHED TO SAID WELLHEAD; MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID OTHER TOOL OPENING SAID PASSAGE OF SAID TOOL THERETHROUGH, AND GUIDE MEANS SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR GUIDING A WIRELINE TOOL TO SAID OTHER OPENING WHEN SAID TOOL IS TO BE REMOVED FROM SAID HOUSING.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said other opening is located near the bottom of said laterally extending portion, whereby a wireline tool may be raised and lowered into and out of said lubricator through said other opening by use of said wireline.
 3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said laterally extending portion extends laterally a greater distance near the bottom than the top, whereby wireline tools may be inserted and removed through said other opening at an angle relative to the vertical.
 4. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said guide means includes a movable member mounted in said housing and adapted for urging said tool laterally into said laterally extending portion upon operation thereof; and means connected to said movable member for operating said member from a point exterior of said housing.
 5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said operating means includes a handle operably connected to said movable member for manipulating said tool to said laterally extending portion for removal through said other opening.
 6. A wellhead lubricator vertically mountable on a wellhead assembly for running a wireline tool into and out of the well, comprising: an elongated housing for said wireline tool; an aperture at one end of said housing for passage of the wireline thereinto; a first opening at the other end of said housing for providing communication with said wellhead assembly when said housing is mounted thereon; a second opening in said housing for selectively removing said wireline tool therefrom; means for releasably closing said second opening, and means for guiding said wireline tool towards said second opening when said wireline tool is to be removed from said housing as aforesaid.
 7. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 6 wherein: said housing includes a laterally extending portion with said second opening being disposed thereon.
 8. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 7 wherein: said second opening is laterally spaced from said first opening near said other housing end whereby said wireline tool may be passed through said second opening at an angle relative to the vertical.
 9. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 6 wherein: said guide means includes a movable member mounted in said housing for urging said wireline tool towards said second opening as aforesaid, and means connected to said movable member for operating said member exteriorly of said housing.
 10. A wellhead lubricator as defined in claim 6 and further including: a valve for selectively bleeding pressure from said housing.
 11. A METHOD OF RUNNING WIRELINE TOOLS IN AND OUT OF A WELL, THE COMBINATION OF STEPS COMPRISING: ATTACHING A GENERALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED HOUSING TO THE WELLHEAD OF SAID WELL IN FLUID TIGHT RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH; SUPPORTING A WIRELINE TOOL IN SAID HOUSING WHILE MAINTAINING SAID HOUSING IN A CLOSED FLUID TIGHT CONDITION, TO THEREBY CONTAIN ANY PRESSURE THAT MAY BE PRESENT IN SAID WELL, LOWERING SAID WIRELINE TOOL INTO SAID WELL AND WITHDRAWING SAID WIRELINE TOOL FROM SAID WELL WHILE MAINTAINING SAID HOUSING IN SAID FLUID TIGHT CONDITION, SHUTTING IN SAID WELL AT A POINT BELOW SAID HOUSING AFTER SAID WIRELINE TOOL IS WITHDRAWN FROM SAID WELL, OPENING SAID HOUSING AND REMOVING SAID WIRELINE TOOL THEREFROM WHILE SAID HOUSING REMAINS ATTACHED TO SAID WELLHEAD AND WHILE SAID WELL IS SHUT IN, INSERTING ANOTHER WIRELINE TOOL INTO SAID HOUSING WHILE SAID HOUSING REMAINS ATATACHED TO SAID WELLHEAD, CLOSING SAID HOUSING TO FORM A FLUID TIGHT CHAMBER THEREIN, AND LOWERING SAID OTHER WIRELINE TOOL INTO SAID WELL AND WITHDRAWING SAID OTHER WIRELINE TOOL FROM SAID WELL WHILE MAINTAINING SAID HOUSING IN SAID FLUID TIGHT CONDITION.
 12. The invention as claimed in claim 11 wherein: said housing is relieved of any well pressure therein after said well is shut in and before said first wireline tool is removed from said housing. 